VMware has launched the next generation of its network functions virtualization (NFV) platform— vCloud NFV-OpenStack Edition 3.0.
Aimed at communication service providers (CSPs), the new platform will provide improved network performance, new carrier-grade network capabilities, and intent-based service assurance.
It will help network carriers to facilitate 5G and distributed computing within the multi-cloud telco networks. VMware announced the new platform following the launch of its VMware Integrated OpenStack-Carrier Edition 5.0 for CSPs who deploy services on OpenStack.
“VMware’s NFV solution is deployed in more than 50 CSPs globally supporting a wide variety of use cases and more than 300 million mobile subscribers. And with the imminent arrival of 5G, a new approach to the telco network and cloud is required to solve for the hyper distribution of virtual network functions, applications and data,” said Shekar Ayyar, executive vice president and general manager, Telco NFV Group, VMware.
VMware said that vCloud NFV-OpenStack Edition 3.0 includes enterprise-grade capabilities like greater resiliency, failover and container networking support.
The support of VMware NSX-Data Center brings the Data Plane Development Kit (DPDK) techniques to the new platform. It will speed up the data plane network performance, enhance CPU efficiency, and reduce processing needs for network edge environments.
The leading carriers including NTT Communications, Telefonica, and Telia have been using the platform for last few months. In a whitepaper published yesterday, Telia and VMware details how other customers can implement the technology.
“With VMware vCloud NFV-OpenStack 3.0, service providers will be able to build software-defined, programmable, highly-distributed Telco Distributed Clouds based on open standards to deliver new advanced services to consumers, and quality-of-service-based network slices to serve the application needs for a wide variety of industries,” added Shekar Ayyar.
Being a platinum and founding member of Open Network Automation Platform (ONAP) project, VMware has integrated its new platform with the ONAP Beijing release.
Furthermore, VMware said that vCloud NFV-OpenStack also supports integration with Open Source Mano (OSM) release 4.
Also read: VMware updates its vRealize platform for automated management across hybrid cloud environments
Announced at 5G World Summit 2018, the vCloud NFV-OpenStack 3.0 is expected to be generally available in August this year.
